Why Do I Need a Sleep Test?

Results show that people who have severe sleep apnea, which involves frequent breathing pauses during sleep, have three times the risk of dying due to any cause compared with people who do not have sleep apnea. It is estimated that 5.4 million Canadians have Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). 

From Stats. Can. Data (2009) OSA increases the risk 2.5 times of reporting  diabetes and 1.8 times more, in reporting hypertension. 

Those with OSA are 2.2 times more likely to report heart disease and 2.2 times more likely to report a mood disorder.  

Those with moderate OSA are 7 times more likely to have a motor vehicle accident. 

A Sleep Test is a measure of your brain waves, oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing and other vitals while you’re asleep. There are tests you can take home and use overnight in your own bed (Home Sleep Test or HST) and there are Sleep Lab Tests, which as the name infers, requires you to ‘sleep over’ in the lab. This usually requires being hooked up to monitors with many little wires. It sounds daunting but isn’t really too bad. 

Sleep Lab Experience vs Sleep Test at Home 

However, for many, getting sleep testing can seem an overwhelming experience. You probably have questions floating through your mind like do I really need one? What is the process? How much does it cost? What are my options? What happens if I’m positive for whatever they’re testing for? 

These are all valid questions that you should take into consideration when scheduling and completing a sleep study.  

A sleep apnea test is actually called a cardio-respiratory test because the diagnosis is taken from the results from these issues. Obstructive Sleep Apnea is a common reason for being tested and the test is designed to measure your body’s measurements while you sleep to determine whether or not you suffer from an excess of apneic events (events of apnea). An event is measured each time you stop breathing. 

Since measures are of full (apnea) and partial (hypopneas), the sum of them is measured as an index per hour known as the Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI). 

These are excessive or elongated periods where you stop breathing which causes stress in the body that can interrupt your sleep cycles. There are a couple of different ways that we can test for these vitals and determine your diagnosis.  

Ultimately, there are two forms of sleep testing: at-home sleep studies (HST) or in-lab overnight (polysomnography-PSG) sleep studies. These two methods differ in how you schedule, time and pay for the test which determines your potential sleep disorder. Polysomnography (In-Lab Sleep Testing) is not at home. 

In-lab and overnight (with polysomnography-PSG), a polysomnography is a clinical sleep test used to identify and diagnose a variety of different sleep disorders including Sleep Apnea. There are several types of connections, wires and attachments that will measure your vitals during your night of sleep. Important for diagnosing several sleep problems, the data measures your brain waves, heart rate, breathing, blood oxygen levels, and eye/leg movements during sleep.  

To complete a polysomnography, you will have to go to either an in-hospital sleep lab or a dedicated sleep study center. A professional must hook you up to all the wires/nodes and monitor your sleep the entire night in order to gain reliable data for diagnoses. 

You will spend the night in what looks like a hotel bedroom/bathroom and will wear about two dozen sensors and nodes from your scalp to your legs to gather the information mentioned above. You will receive your detailed results in a few weeks after they have been reviewed and interpreted by a board-certified sleep physician. Sleep lab testing can seem a strange experience because you’ll be sleeping in a foreign bed and location while hooked up to lots of monitors. This testing process can be necessary if you suffer from more severe sleep disorders like insomnia, narcolepsy, or restless leg syndrome (RLS). OSA is less likely for clinical reasons. 

It is natural to have concerns with the idea of an in-lab sleep testing, especially if you are only being tested for potential OSA which is a much easier, more clear-cut sleep disorder. Especially now, as the county continues to suffer from COVID-19, it’s natural to want to avoid hospitals and medical centers at all costs. But there is another option if you want to seek out testing for sleep apnea, and that is Home Sleep Test (HST). 

 At-Home Sleep Apnea Testing 

Home Sleep Tests are done in the comfort of your own home and your own bed. 

This is an excellent option for those who are fairly certain they may be suffering from sleep apnea based on their on-going side effects. If you suspect you might have Sleep Apnea because of excessive daytime fatigue, chronic headaches, difficulty falling or staying asleep, or mood swings, then you are likely a great candidate for at-home sleep testing. 

After receiving your Home Sleep Test (HST) device and activating the recording session, the device will monitor a series of ‘biometric data’ while you sleep which includes breathing patterns, blood oxygen saturation, heart rhythms, respiratory effort, sleep positions, and more.  

After you return the device to your HST provider, a board-certified sleep physician will interpret your results, give you a diagnosis and, if necessary, a prescription for treatment which may include a variety of options. These options range from weight loss, positional therapy, dental oral appliance therapy and even surgery or CPAP. 

Please note that HSTs are only approved for adults 18 years and older and are often limited to testing for only Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).  

An at-home sleep study is a great option for anyone who believes they may be suffering from a sleep disorder, especially if the suspected disorder is sleep apnea.  

Though in-lab sleep studies are viable options for many, they are known for being very expensive (although billed to MSP in British Columbia), a little uncomfortable and potentially anxiety-inducing because of the unknown surroundings and challenging conditions. There is also a phenomenon known as the "first night effect” (FNE) - the alteration of sleep architecture observed on the first night of polysomnographic (PSG) studies.  

Opting for a home sleep study means that you can measure your breathing alongside other sleep factors and get the diagnosis you need to start treatment sooner.  

Are These Tests Accurate and Reliable?  

Home sleep tests have come a long way and measure a series of biometric data that are then reviewed by board certified sleep physicians to give you a clear understanding of your sleep quality.  

An at-home sleep test will measure everything from blood oxygen saturation and breathing patterns to breathing depth, heart rhythms, snoring and even body position. Because home sleep studies give you the option to undergo monitoring from the comforts of home, it is imperative that you follow the sleep study directions to avoid user error.  

You need to ensure that all the monitoring tools are attached correctly to get the best results possible. 

What do Sleep Tests Measure? 

Your sleep study device has three sensors that will monitor your sleep and aggregate data throughout the night. A small nasal tube will measure airflow and breathing patterns, an adjustable belt will monitor respiratory effort and a finger sensor will track your blood oxygen saturation.  

At-home sleep studies are a great option for those who suspect they may have sleep apnea, a chronic condition where your body experiences airflow obstructions during sleep that can deeply impact sleep duration and quality. If you suspect that you may have a more anomalous sleep condition, like narcolepsy or restless leg syndrome (RLS), you may need an in-lab sleep study. For the common sleep apnea sufferer, an in-home sleep test will measure all the biometric data needed to get a clear diagnosis. 

Are My Results Accurate? 

After you’ve completed your home sleep test, you’ll send back or return the testing kit and a board-certified sleep physician will review and interpret your biometric data. The physician will consider factors like blood oxygen saturation, breathing patterns, respiratory effort, body position, heart rhythms, and any obstructions or breathing stops.  

Using this information, the physician will create a full report of your sleep as well as a diagnosis if you are suffering from some level of sleep apnea. Once your results come back to you, you’ll be contacted by your sleep test provider who will review your results with you, answer any clarifying questions you may have, and go over your treatment options.  

If you’re looking to protect yourself and loved ones by avoiding unnecessary trips to a hospital or medical center, then an at-home sleep test is a great option for you! COVID-19 has a high infection rate, especially inside buildings, so staying at home is the safest option for you and your family. An at-home sleep study ensures that you can get an accurate diagnosis from a board-certified sleep physician without leaving your home.  

Getting great sleep starts with getting your diagnosis sooner, it’s really quite easy and you can get started toward a better sleep. 

Predictive Measurement 

To trial weight loss simply means losing weight which is not always easy! Positional therapy may mean investing in some specific aids. CPAP is a good treatment option for some people, but a common issue is compliance where it is hard to adhere to the mask with a hose and air pump every night. Many people do well with CPAP. For those who find difficulties, a dental oral appliance often works well as a less invasive method to treat Sleep Apnea. 

If you have any concerns that you may have Obstructive Sleep Apnea, you can call us for screening and assistance in resolving this so that you can get on with your life, the way it was meant to be!  

For more Blogs - please see - www.abettersleep.net - Stephen Bray (2020)